Electrical connecter



Nov. 23, 1937. E. E. SAXT-ON 2,099,944

ELECTRIQAL CONNECTER Original Filed March 25, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR A TTORNE Y NOV. 23, 1937. SAXTON I 2,099,944

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Original Filed March 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y NOV. 23, 1937. E SAXTON 2,099,944

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Original Filed March 25, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F IElU A ,6,70 62 35, 5/ y, l I D 7 i 5 50 22, m a, @e T I 7 85 Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL OONNECTER Ellsworth E. Saxton, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 25, 1933, Serial No. 662,675 Renewed April 20, 1937 19 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-50) My invention relates, in general terms, to a switch means to control the normal supply of means whereby a device operated by or using current to the terminal while connected, and furelectric current can be connected to a source ther, to provide means associated with the switch of current. means to effect disconnection of the supply of According to the present invention, means current to the members which immediately enare provided for engaging a terminal or tergage the terminal, upon release thereof. minals of the current-consuming device by With these and other objects in mind, as will means incorporated in the connecter, and for be ascertained as this specification progresses, releasing the same at will for ready disconmy invention comprises the novel parts, and the nection, and the invention is concerned in novel arrangements and combinations thereof, part with the means for accomplishing such as shown in the accompanying drawings, as demovement of the parts of the connecter. scribed in this specification, and as will be more Since with the consuming device disconnected particularly defined by the claims which terthere is the ever-present possibilityof accidentally minate the same.

touching a charged member of the connecter, In the accompanying drawings I have shown 15 thus Causing a shock to pass through the body the principles of my invention incorporated in of the person touching it, or overloading the cirtwo forms of connecters, to illustrate typical cult, the invention is further concerned with a ways in which the essence of the invention may means operable upon release of the terminal of be embodied, all without restriction to any spe- 26 the consuming device to automatically cut off the cific form of connecter other than as defined by supply of current to the terminal-engaging the claims. means, so that there can be no possibility of Figures 1, 2 and 3 are sectional views through overloading or of accidentally receiving a shock a lamp socket embodying my invention, showing therefrom. Such means can be readily incorpothe same in three difierent positions.

rated in or associated with a switch, whereby Figures 4 and 5 are bottom plan views of the 25 the supply of current to the terminal or tersame, corresponding respectively to the positions minals of the consuming device can be readily of Figures 1 and 3. controlled and turned on or off as the user may Figures 6, 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional desire without effecting disconnection or disenviews through a connecter formed as a jack for gagement of the consuming device from the conconnection to household electrical appliances 30 necter, yet must be turned off to effect disenembodying my invention, and illustrating three gagement. different positions of the parts, and Figure 9 is In this specification the term consuming dea transverse section through the same on the vice is intended to comprise any member which line 9-9 of Figure 6.

utilizes electric current, such as a lamp, an elec Figures 10, 11 and 12 are plan views of the 5 trio iron, a motor, and the like. The terminal, to latter form of the invention, with the upper hall which reference has been made, may constitute of the connecter casing removed, and illustrating the screw base of a lamp, a plug of any sort, or parts in different positions.

a device such as the two prongs of an electric Referring to the form of Figures 1 to 5 in- F011, the like- The connecter m y clusive, which shows my invention embodied in 0 assume various forms, such as a socket for rea simple form, a base 9 is provided with means for ception of the 0rd .ary screw base of a lamp bulb, connection to a source of urrent, being, for exor the jack into which the prong terminals of an ample, screw threaded, as indicated at 90, to be iron, toaster, or the like appliance are inserted. screwed into the standard screw socket. The con- In general, then, it is an object of my invention nection might be any which is found desirable, 45 to provide a connecter with which a terminal may and the base 9 might be provided merely with be easily engaged and disengaged. connections to which may be secured the ends It is a further object to provide such a conf lead-in wires, as in the ordinary lamp socket, necter having means operable upon or prior to and as shown in the other figures. However, in

disconnection of the terminal to out off the sup the form shown in Figures 1 to 5, a lead 8 is in- 50 ply of current to the members with which the tended for connection to one side of the current terminal is immediately engaged. main, and a shell 80 is similarly to be connected It is a further object to devise such a conto the other side of the main, and from the shell necter which is readily disconnected from the t a lead 8! conducts current to an internal terminal, and which has incorporated therein metallic thread 2 with which may be engaged the 55 shell of the screw base of a lamp globe, the globe being indicated at G. Thus there is direct vconnection from the current source to the shell 2, in the form illustrated in these figures,

The shell 2 constitutes one part, preferably a half, of a screw socket in this instance, or more generally speaking, constitutes one jaw of a pair or" separable jaw members. The other jaw i is not, in this form, an electrical conductonand is pref erably made of insulating material. This jaw l is mounted in the base 9 for movement towards and from the complemental jaw 2, being mounted, in the form shown, for transverse sliding move ment.

The support for the movable jaw i may be formed by means of a pin 3 which is guided in the base 9 for transverse sliding movement, and which has secured to it a member 39 which in turn is secured by a screw 3! to the jaw l. The member 30 is conveniently formed with two notches corresponding to different positions of the pin 3, and a spring catch t is engageable in these notches to maintain the pin 3 in any one of the positions which may be selected. By a lost motion arrangement involving the pin 33 and a slot 3 6 in the member the pin 23 may assume three distinct positions.

The pin 3 is also provided with a finger which is engageable with each of two horns Evil and M of a switch arm ii. This switch arm is supported from the base 9, for example, in a metal bracket 52, the lower part of which, at 53, is positioned to contact with the center contact point of the lamp base.

In the position shown in Figure l the switch arm 5 is in contact with the lower end of the lead 8, and the jaws l and l? are closed. The pin 33 is at the right hand end of the slot B l. Therefore'ifa lamp base is in place between the jaws, current will be passed to the lamp base by the leads to the metallic member 2, previously referred to, and through the lead 3, the switch arm 5, the bracket 52, and the point 53. If it is desired to turn on: the supply of current to the lamp while still retaining the lamp in the socket, the

right-hand end of the pin 3 is pressed to move it transversely of the base 9, to the left, to move the pin 33 to the left hand end of the slot S l in the member 3%, and to engage the finger 35 with the horn M of the switch arm 5, and thus to throw the switch arm to the off position shown in Figure 2. The switch arm 5 would normally have means, as is customary in switches, to retain it in the on and the off positions, such means not being illustrated since they are common in the art.

Now if it is desired to release the terminal member, that is, the base of the lamp bulb, from the socket, it is only necessary to press the pin farther to the left, whereupon the pin 33, which, it will be remembered, has moved to the left-hand end of the slot 36, presses the movable jaw l outward away from the fixed jaw 2, separates the jaws, and causes the terminal of the lamp globe to be released. The spring catch i is now engaged with the right hand notch in the member 39. Figure 3 shows the parts in this position.

It will be observed that it is not possible, except by unscrewing the lamp bulb, to release the same from the jaws l and 2, except after the switch arm 5 has been moved to the off position. If the base of the lamp is modified from the form shown, so that it is connected to the jaws by other than screw means, that is to say, by such means as can only be disconnected by separating the jaws l and 2, it will be evident that it will not be possible to release the lamp base without having first opened the switch arm 5 and cutting off the supply of current to the jaws. It will also be evident that the switch arm 5 might be duplicated, and the current out off within the base from the metallic member 2 as well as from the contact 53, thus to break within the base the supply of current to any part which might be contacted by the hand.

In. the remaining figures the principle illustrated above has been incorporated in a device wherein the switch arms are duplicated, and the current supply is completely out off from the jaws. The connector illustrated in these figures is such a jack as is commonly employed upon the end of an extension cord for connection to two projecting prongs of an electric appliance, for instance, an electric iron, and there is incorporated in this device a means to prevent reentrance or reengagement of the terminals T and T should the switches be turned on after disengagement of the terminals from the jaws. This will prevent any possibility of a child, for instance, inserting a nail 0r pin into the jaws and thereby receiving a shock, due to the current having been connected again to the jaws while the terminals T and T are disconnected.

In this form the base is formed as a casing consisting of two members 9 and 9!, as is customary, into which run the two leads 82 and 83. These terminate in contact points 84 and 85, respectively, within the cavity of the casing, and switch arms 5 and 5' are mounted as before to contact with the respective contact points, or to be moved from engagement therewith. Since the jaws and all connections are identical on each side of the line in this device, it will be necessary to describe one only, that connected to the switch arm 5.

The pin 3, in the central portion within the base, is formed with a finger 35 for engagement with the horns 50 and 5! of the switch arm 5. It is also provided with three notches within which is engageable the spring finger t. The jaws l and 2 may in this instance both be me tallic members and electrically connected to the switch arm 5, the jaw 2 being fixed to the casing member 9, and the jaw I being mounted thereon for movement toward and from the jaw 2. Movement of the jaw I is controlled by a wedge mem her 6 movable lengthwise of the jaw, and cooperating with an inclined surface 60 upon the upper casing member 91 to move the jaw l towards the jaw 2 as the wedge member 6 is moved to the left. To control movement of the wedge member E it is supported upon an arm 62 which carries a pin 63 receivable in a cam slot (it in the pin 3. The arm 62 is suitably guided in spaced guides $5 on the casing member 9 so that it cannot move otherwise than lengthwise of the casing.

The slot 36 has a transversely extending sectiOn and an angularly inclined section. So long as the pin 63 is in the transverse section, as shown in Figures 10 and ll, its movement in one direction or the other will only serve to open or to close the switch arms 5 and 5', bringing them into contact with their respective contact points and 8 5. While the pin 63 is in this transverse portion of the cam slot 36, no longitudinal move.- ment of the wedge members ii is accomplished,

but when the pin 3 is pressed into the position F shown in Figure 12, bringing the pin 63 into the angularly inclined portion of the slot 36, the Wedge members ii are moved to the right, and are withdrawn from the complemental incline 60, thereby permitting the jaw l to swing open.

When the jaw is open the terminals T and 'I" can be withdrawn or inserted freely, but when the wedge member 6 has been moved to the left from the position of Figures 7 and 12 into the position shown in Figures 6, 10 and 11, the jawsare closed, and if a terminal is in place between the jaws, the terminal is clamped and held in connection with the terminals. However, it will be noted that here, as in the first form, the terminals can not be disconnected until the switch arms and 5 have been thrown to the off position.

To prevent engagement of the terminal with the jaws, if the switch has been thrown to the on position after disengagement of the jaws, and to prevent insertion of a pin or nail, and thereby obtaining contact with the jaws when the switch is in the on position, I provide a member 7 which may be termed a closure member, and which in one sense functions as an ejector, being movable longitudinally between the jaws I and 2 to eject a terminal which is between the jaws. Preferably this is in the form of a pin having a head l9, and movement of the member 1 is con trolled by a spring H.

When the jaws are open, as in Figures 7 and 12, the spring H throws the member 7 to the left, and it closes the aperture 92 in the casing, through which the terminal T may enter. How ever, as long as the jaws remain open the terminal may be inserted, pushing back the head 70 in opposition. to the spring H to place the terminal again between the jaws, but it will be remembered that the jaws are only open when the switch is in the off position. If with the closure member H3 in front of the aperture 92 the switch is thrown to the on position, the jaws close behind the head 10, as in Figure 8, and the terminal T may not now be inserted. The member 19 would be made of insulating material; consequently no contact can be had with any live part of the device, either by the terminal 'l. or by a nail or pin mischievously inserted through the aperture 92. Upon again moving the switch to the off positionpthe jaw I is permitted to swing open, and now the member 7 may be pressed inward to permit insertion of the terminal T, whereupon, the head Hi being received in a recess ll provided in the jaw l for the purpose, the jaw I may again be closed upon the terminal, completing the connection thereto.

It is preferable that the two ends of the pin 3 be so formed that they may be readily distinguished by feeling, to which end head 3: has

een formed upon one end only of this pin.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, means to engage and retain the terminal, switch means controlling the supply of current to the terminal when thus engaged, and switch-operating means operable only after the switch means is in the off position to move the terminal retaining means positively into disengaged position, thereby to free the terminal.

2..In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, means movable into respective positions to engage and disengage the terminal, means controlling the supply of current to the terminal, and operating means con trwlirig both the aforesaid means to connect and to out off the current supply while the terminal engaging means is in operative position, and lurther operative to move the terminal-engaging means into inoperative position after the current supply means has been moved to the ofif position.

3. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, means movable into respective positions to engage and disengage the terminal, means controlling the supply of current to the terminal, and operating means controlling both the aforesaid means to connect and to cut on the current supply while the terminal-engaging means is in operative position, and further operative to move the terminal-engaging means into inoperative position after the current supply means has been moved to the off position, and to effect positive disconnection of the terminal.

4. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, means movable into respective positions to engage and disengage the terminal, switch means controlling the supply of current to the terminal, operating means controlling both the aforesaid means to connect and to cut off the current supply while the terminal engaging means is in operative position, and further operative to move the terminal from engaged position after the switch means has been moved to the ofi position, and means to prevent engagement of the terminal with the first means while the switch means is in the on position.

5. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, means movable into positions to engage and disengage the terminal, respectively, switch means movable into an on and an off position to control the supply of current to the terminal, and operating means movable into three positions, upon movement into the first position moving the switch means into on position, upon movement from such position to a second position moving the switch means into on position, and only upon further movement beyond the off position into its third position moving the first means into disengaged position.

6. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, means movable into positions to engage and disengage the terminal, respectively, switch means movable into an on and an off position to control the supply of current to the terminal, operating means movable into three positions, upon movement into the first position moving the switch means into on position, upon movement from such position to a second position moving the switch means into off position, and upon further movement beyond the off position into its third position moving the first means into disengaged position, and closure means automatically movable upon movement of the operating means towards the third position into a position to block engagement of the terminal with the first means, said operating means and said closure means being interengageable to retain the latter in blocking position upon movement of the operating means from its third position.

7. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, means movable into positions to engage and disengage the terminal, respectively, switch means movable into an on and an ofi position to control the supply of current to the terminal, operating means movable into three positions, upon movement into the first position moving the switch means into on position, upon movement from such position to a second position moving the switch means into off position, and upon further movement beyond the off position into its third position moving the first means into disengaged position,

and ejector'means associated with the first means and automatically operable .upon movement of the operating means towards the third position to effect disengagement of the terminal from the first means.

8. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source ofv current, means movable into positions to engage and disengage the terminal, respectively, switch means movable into an on and an off position to control the supply of current to the terminal, operating means movable into three positions, upon movement into the first position moving the switch means into on position, upon movement from such position to a second position moving the switch means into off position, and upon further movement beyond the off position into its third position moving the first means into disengaged position, ejector means associated with the first means and automatically operable upon movement of the operating means towards the third position to effect disengagement of the terminal from the first means, means to maintain the ejector means in the latter position, yieldablev under the influence of pressure of the terminal towards the engaging means, and means to lock the ejector means in ejected position upon movement of the operating means into its first or switch-on position, thereby to prevent engagement of the terminal with the engaging means.

9. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, jaws separable to release such terminal, and movable one towards the other to engage the same, a switch movable into an on and an ofi position to control the supply of current to said jaws, operating means movable into three positions, upon movement into the first position moving the switch into on position, upon movement from such position to the second position moving the switch into ofi position, and jaw-closing means associated with said operating means, and operable thereby upon movement from the second position to the third position to open the jaws.

10. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, jaws separable to release such terminal, and movable one towards the other to engage the same, a switch movable into an on and an off position to control the supply of current to said jaws, operating means movable into three positions, upon movement into the first position moving the switch into on position, upon movement from such position to the second position moving the switch into off position, jaw-closing means associated with said operating means, and operable thereby upon movement from the second position to the third position to open the jaws, and a member springpressed outwardly through and beyond the jaws into position to prevent entrance of the terminal between the jaws, but yieldable when the jaws are open to permit entrance of the terminal, the jaws when closed by movement of the operating member into its first position engaging said memher to retain it in its outward position, thereby to prevent engagement oi the terminal with the jaws while the switch is in on position.

11. A device as in claim 9, the jaw-closing means comprising a wedge movable longitudinally of a jaw and a cooperating member to press the wedge towards the jaw to close it, and cam means connected to said wedge and associated with the operating means to move the wedge into jawclosing position only as the operating means moves from its second to its third position.

12. A device as in claim 9, wherein the jawclosing means comprises a pin projecting from the operating means, and the movable jaw has a slot receiving said pin, and permitting free movement thereof as the operating means moves between its first and second positions, the pin being engageable with an end of the slot to move the jaw away from the opposite jaw as the operating means moves from its second to its third position. I

13. A device as in claim 10, the spring-pressed member being formed as a headed pin, the head being of a size to pass between the jaws when open, but to engage the end of the jaws when closed, thereby to deny entrance of the terminal between the jaws.

14. An electrical connecter to connect an electric terminal to a source of current, comprising a base and a switch point connected to the source,

means associated with the base for engagement with the terminal, electrical connections between said engagingmeans and said switch point, including a switch arm, switch-operating means operatively engageable with said switch arm to move the same between off and on positions, without disengagement of the engaging means and also connected to the engaging means for operation there-oi to disengage the terminal, by movement beyond the ofi position of the switch arm.

15. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, means movable to engage and to disengage said terminal, and means to supply current to said terminal when so engaged, said latter means including a gap which is opened by movement of the first means in the direction to disengage the terminal, and said engaging means being disengageable only by further movement of said latter means beyond the gap-opening position.

16. In a device for connecting an electric ter minal to a source of current, switch means movable between an on position and an oil position, locking means operating to lock a terminal against disconnecting movement prior to initiation or" movement of said switch means from off position toward on position, and releasing means inoperative to move said locking means to unlocked position prior to termination of movement of said switch means from on position to off position, said locking means normally operating after termination of movement of the switch means from on position to oii position to lock the terminal against disconnecting movement, but said releasing means being operable at the option of an operator to unlock said locking means, and thus to release, the terminal, only after completion of the movement of the switch means from on position to off position.

17. A socket device for receiving an electric terminal shaft, comprising switch means movable between an on and an oil. position, socket means normally retaining a terminal shaft, said switch means preventing releasing movement of said socket means while in the on position, and shaft-ejector means restrained from movement while said switch means are in the on position, and movable to eject the terminal only after said switch means have reached the ofi position,

3.8. In a device for connecting. an electric terminal to a source of current, terminal engaging means to physically engage and lock the terminal against disconnecting movement when in terminal engaged position, switch means interposed between said terminal engaging means and the source to electrically connect the two, and switchoperating means cooperating with said terminal engaging means to maintain the latter in locked engagement with the terminal while the switch means is in the on and in the off positions, and said switch-operating means being optionally operable only after moving the switch means to off position to permit movement of said terminal engaging means away from the terminal engaged position to enable the terminal to be disconnected.

19. In a device for connecting an electric terminal to a source of current, terminal engaging means to physically engage and lock the terminal against disconnecting movement when in terminal engaged position, switch means interposed between said terminal engaging means and the source to electrically connect the two, and switchoperating means cooperating with said terminal 5 ELLSWORTH E. SAXTON. 1 

